Warp knitting machine



Sept. 16, 1947. V w. DLKELLOGG WARP KNITTING MACHINE Filed Au 22, 1946 2,She.ets Sheet 1 INVENTOR;

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w.-D. KELLOGG WARP KNITTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 22, 1946 Sept. 16, 1947a I l i IN V EN TOR. .4 WILLIAM .0. KELL 066 Patented Sept. 16, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WARP KNITTING MACHINE William D. KellogguAmster-dam, Y., assignor to Aveco, Incorporated, Amsterdam, N. Y., a corporationof New York Application AugustZZ, 1946, Serial No. 692,221

11 Claims.

This invention relates --to a warpknitting machine comprising knitting elements including needlea guides,sinkers, presser bars and the like, and-a cam shaft carrying cams which engage cam followers for controlling the knitting cycle of-the elements.

-Inthis type of warp knitting machine, it vis virtually impossible to adjust the followers to that they engage the cam'surfaces without play. Generally, it is the practice to provide for each movement (that is,'for-example, for the movement. of theneedle bar) a plurality of cams spaced along the i cam shaft, 9 a plurality of countercams oneadjacent-eachcam and followers for each cam and countercamsetgeachpair offollowers being carried by asingle lever mounted pivotally for transferring'the motion-to the particular bar carrying the-knitting. elements, such as the needle bar, guide bar, sinkerbar, or..presser: bar. When it is desired to adjust the operation of the knitting elements, such as theloperation of the needle bar, it is customary-to effect the adjustment by'moving' the cam follower roller carried by the lever in a slot therein closer or farther-from the cam and thentaking up the slack by moving the other followerroller against the countercam. The impossibility ofvmaintaining a complete absence of play between the SGVSFELLCEIHS' and followers results in excessive wear and vibration, particularly when it is desired to operate .the machine at high speed, since the levers are given an oscillatory or rocking movement by the cams and -.a

viscous film between the cam surface and the follower occupies any clearance or play and exerts a cushioning effectbetween the cam'and follower surfaces thereby greatly'reducing the vibration and wear. The levers extend-through suitable openings inthe housing and are: provided with laterally projecting bafiles'which are ofgreater area than the openings and are spacedinwardly from the openings in generalalignment' therewith. A preferred embodiment involves means -for controlling thesupply of' liquid to each cam. Another preferred construction hasa plurality of baffleszon each lever. co-operating .with a plurality of spaced wallpanels through openings in which the lever extends.

Thedrawing is illustrative of preferred embodi- -ments of-the invention and Figure 1 is a transverse section, with parts 'broken=-away,-of -a-warp knitting machine embodying the invention taken on .line I-I of Figure 2,

Figure-'2' is a front-elevation withlparts in section and parts broken away, along a portion of the i length of the machine,

Figure-3 is atransversecross-section on line III-III of Figure 1,

Figurelis a transverse cross-section on line IV- 1V of Figure 3, I and Figure '5 is a transverse cross-section on line As-shown in Figure 1, the knitting machine --comprisesa-needle bar 2 carrying needles 3, a

spartially immersed. The'immersion may be suffi- ."cient'to cause thecams to run constantly through sinker-bar lcarrying sinkers 5, a presser bar 6,

an'd'two or more guide bars (not shown) carrying guides l and 8. The needle bar, presser bar, and

siriker'bar are-pivotally mounted on shafts 9, It and'l l respectively. The guide bars are similarly mounted but to clarify'the illustration and to make itassinnple as possible, the mounting of the guide-barsis not shown, since they are in all respects similar to the mountings of the needle bar, presser-bar-and sinker bar. The needle bar,

presser bar, sinker bar, etc., are rocked pivotally upon their shafts-9, Ill, II, etc., by means of the levers l2, Band 14 (see Figs. 2 to 4) whose lower ends carry laterally offset roller followers l5.

These rollerfollowers arecarried on stud shafts l6 (Fig.2) mounted in slots l1- (Figures 1, l and-5 formed in the endsof the levers l2, l3, and Hi to permitadjustmentby means of nuts 16 in conventional manner.

A'cam shaft l9 is mounted in suitable bearings inthe-upright frame members Ila and carries aplurality of pairs of cams20 and countercams 2i! for-engagement with the roller followers l5 carried bytheleverslZ, l3, 14, etc. Additional cams which are not shown are provided for controlling the guide barsand optionally the tension bars.

In accordance with the'present invention, a housinga2l ..is.provided about the cam shaft I8. Thisihousing istadapted to receive a viscous liquid atiasufficientlevelso that the cams arevat least theliquid, orit may be somewhat less (as shown) toassurethat the camsdip into theliquid at least 551.

part of;the time of .each revolution.

Each of the levers l2, l3, i i, etc., extends through one of a plurality of passage means 24 comprising openings provided in the upper wall 22 of the housing 2!. Each of the levers is provided with one or more laterally projecting bafi'les 23. If one baffle is employed it is spaced inwardly of the opening in the upper wall 22 through which the lever extends. Each baffle has a greaterarea than the area of the opening inside of which it is positioned and the baffle is generally in alignment with the opening so that at all times during the cycle of movement of the lever the baille overlaps or blocks the entire opening, thereby preventing any direct passage of the liquid outward through the opening.

A preferred construction has a composite passage means 24 (see Figure 1) carried by the upper wall 22 of the housing 2|. As shown, this composite door has a plurality of spaced panels 25 each provided with a generally aligned opening 26 through which one of the levers extends. The panels 25 are spaced apart so that they may alternate with the baffles 23 upon the lever, each bafile being disposed inside of the corresponding opening and having a greater area than such opening. The innermost baffle 23 de fleets the liquid thrown upwardly from the cams 2i) and 29' from the innermost opening 26 and each subsequent baffle and associated opening serves as additional protection against the loss of any spray, splash or mist coming from the cams immediately there below or those offset laterally therefrom.

The baffles 23 may take various forms for the various levers as may be seen from a comparison of that shown in Figure l with those shown in Figures 4 and 5. The construction depends upon the amount of oscillatory movement imparted to the levers and the arrangement of the parts with respect thereto, particularly the disposition of the rock shafts 9, I0, ll, etc., relative to the upper wall 22 of the housing.

To facilitate dismantling and reassembly of the housing and levers, the upper wall of the housing 2| is formed of two sections in the form of plates 22a and 22b and their line of juncture at 22c extending generally longitudinally of the machineis overlapped by means of a strip 22d secured to or formed integrally with the upper edge of member 22a. The member 220, may be formed integrally with the front wall 21 of the housing and the unit formed of member 22a and front wall 21 may rest upon angle irons 28 secured on adjacent upright frame members Ila. The lower edge of wall 2? may be provided with a downwardly extending strip 29 adapted to overlap an upright wall 30 extending from the floor 3! of the housing. Similarly, plate 2217 may be formed integrally with the back wall 32 which may be bent as shown and has adjacent its lower end a strip 33 adapted to fit within the sloped wall 34 extending from the back of the floor 3i of the housing. Angle irons 35 may be arranged upon the adjacent uprights 11a for carrying the member 2% and the back wall 32.

Each passage means 24 is divided transversely into two sections as at lines 36 (Figure 1), 37 (Figure and 38 (Figure 4). This break (36, 31, or 38) extends completely through the passage means and both openings therein and joins the line of juncture 220 so that when member 22a is separated from member 22b of the housing, which may be accomplished with the aid of handles 22c and 22 respectively, merely by a com- ,bined lifting and outward motion of either the back or front sections, one section of the passage means 24 is carried with 22a and the other section is carried with 22b. To seal this juncture between the two sections of the passage means 24, a skirt, such as 39 in Figure 1, it in Figure 5, and A l in Figure 4, is secured to one of the sections and overlaps the juncture thereof with the other section. These skirts, wherever they overlap openings 26, are cut away to be flush with such openings so that they do not interfere with the operation of the levers therein.

In the preferred construction, each cam 20 and each cam 28' is provided with an individual receptacle 42, though such receptacles may be omitted if desired. Such receptacles 42 are open at the top and extend to a point above the genera level of liquid within the housing and are provided with small orifices 33 which are of predetermined bore and height to provide a desired level within the receptacles 52. This arrangement controls the amount of liquid in direct contact with each individual cam and thereby limits the splashing while assuring that each cam is provided with a proper film of liquid on its periphery. This control reduces the amount of work consumed in agitating the liquid, reduces splash, spray and mist and thereby increases the efficiency of the operation. An excessive amount of oil carried by the peripheries of the cams serves no useful purpose and is preferably avoided. As will be seen from the drawings, the cams dip into the viscous liquid and carry a film thereof into engagement with the roller followers, thereby eliminating to a large extent undesirable vibration and wear and allowing higher speeds to be attained. The construction is such that the liquid is effectively prevented from migration to parts outside the housing and no soiling of the materials being fabricated occurs.

Any suitable liquid having sufiicient stability, viscosity and non-corrosiveness may be supplied to the housing 2! which preferably is made of sufiicient length to supply all of the cams between adjacent upright frame members Ila of the machine. In case the machine has great length for producing broad fabrics, a plurality of upright frame members Ila may be present and a separate housing may be provided between each adjacent two of such upright members. If desired, however, the housing may communicate with the housing on the other side of such a frame member. Again, each set of cams (that is, an associated cam and countercam) may be provided with a separate housing.

Numerous liquids of stable, viscous, non-corrosive character may be used in the machine, provided they have a viscosity of at least about S. A. E. 10. Examples are the liquid Silicones produced by the condensation of silica with alkylene halides. Hydrocarbons and their condensation products having the desired viscosity, stability and non-corrosiveness are also suitable. These hydrocarbons may include the paraffins, the naphthenes and the aromatics.

It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a warp knitting machine, knitting elements, a cam shaft for controlling the knitting cycle of the elements, means for rotating the cam shaft, a substantially closed housing about at least a portion of the length of the cam shaft forcontaining a stable, viscous, hon-corrosive liquid, a cam on the shaft arranged to dip into the liquid, passage means through an upper wall of the housing comprising an opening, a pivotally mounted lever extending through the passage, and cam follower means carried by the lever and engaging the cam through a viscous film of the liquid lifted by the rotation of the cam to the position of engagement with the follower means.

2. In a warp knitting machine, knitting elements, a cam shaft for controlling the knitting cycle of the elements, means for rotating the cam shaft, a substantially closed housing about at least a portion of the length of the cam shaft for containing a stable, viscous, non-corrosive liquid, a cam on the shaft arranged to dip into the liquid, passage means through an upper wall of the housing comprising an opening, a pivotally mounted lever for actuating one of the knitting elements extending through the passage and having a cross-sectional area in the plane of the passage sufiiciently small relative to the area of the passage to allow rocking of the lever by the cam without engaging the edge of the wall surrounding the passage, and cam follower means carried by the lever and engaging the cam through a viscous film of the liquid lifted by the rotation of the cam to the position of engagement with the follower means.

3, In a warp knitting machine, knitting elements, a cam shaft for controlling the knitting cycle of the elements, means for rotating the cam shaft, a substantially closed housing about at least a portion of the length of the cam shaft for containing a stable, viscous, non-corrosive liquid, a cam on the shaft arranged to dip into the liquid, passage means through an upper wall of the housing comprising an opening, a pivotally mounted lever for actuating one of the knitting elements extending freely through the opening, laterally projecting baffle means carried by the lever and spaced inwardly from the opening, said bafile means facing the opening and being of greater transverse area than the opening, and cam follower means carried by the lever and engaging the cam through a viscous film of the liquid lifted by the rotation of the cam to the position of engagement with the follower means.

4. In a warp knitting machine, knitting elements, a cam shaft for controlling the knitting cycle of the elements, means for rotating the cam shaft, a substantially closed housing about at least a portion of the length of the cam shaft for containing a stable, viscous, non-corrosive liquid, a cam on the shaft arranged to dip into the liquid, passage means through an upper wall of the housing comprising two spaced panels having generally aligned openings therein, a pivotally mounted lever for actuating one of the knitting elements and extending freely through the openings, laterally projecting baffies carried by the lever, each of said baffles being spaced inwardly of a corresponding one of the openings in general alignment therewith and having a greater transverse area than its corresponding opening, and cam follower means engaging the cam through a viscous film of the liquid lifted by the rotation of the cam to the position of engagement with the follower means.

5. In a warp knitting machine, knitting elements, a cam shaft for controlling the knitting cycle of the elements, means for rotating the cam shaft, a substantially closed housing about at least a portion of the length of the cam shaft for containing a table, viscous, non-corrosive liquid,

cams on the shaft arranged to dip into the liquid, a plurality of pass-age means through an upper wall of the housing each comprising at least one panel having an openingtherein, pivotally mounted levers extending through the openings in the passage means, laterally projecting bat-fie means carried by each lever and spaced inwardly from the respective openings associated with their levers, each of said bafile means facing its respective opening and being of greater transverse area than said opening, and cam follower means engaging the cams through a viscous film of the liquid lifted by the rotation of the cams to the position of engagement with the follower means.

6. In a warp knitting machine, knitting elements, a cam shaft for controlling the knitting cycle of the elements, means for rotating the cam shaft, a substantially closed housing about at least a portion ofthe length of the cam shaft for containing a stable, viscous, non-corrosive liquid, cams on the shaft arranged to dip into the-liquid, a plurality ofupassage means through an upper wall of the housing each comprising two spaced panels having generally aligned openings therein, pivotally mounted levers each extending through the openings in one of the passage means, laterally projecting-bafiles carried by each lever, each of said bafiies being spaced inwardly from a corresponding one of the openings'in general alignment therewith and having a greater transverse area than its corresponding opening and cam follower means engaging the cams through a viscous film of the liquid lifted by the rotation of the cams to the position of engagement with the follower means.

7. In a warp knitting machine, knitting elements, a, cam shaft for controlling the knitting cycle of the elements, means for rotating the cam shaft, a substantially closed housing "about at least a portion of the length of the cam shaft for containing a stable, viscous, non-corrosive liquid, cams on the shaft arranged to dip into the liquid, a plurality-of passage means through an upper wall of the housing eachcompr-ising'at least one panel having an opening therein, pivotally mounted levers extending through the openings in the passage means, laterally projecting bafile means carried by each lever and spaced inwardly from the respective openings associated with their levers, each of said baflle means facing its respective opening and being of greater transverse area than said opening, and cam follower means engaging the cams through a viscous film of the liquid lifted by the rotation of the cams to the position of engagement with the follower means, said upper wall of the housing being divided into two separable sections along a line of juncture extending generally in the longitudinal direction of the machine, said line of juncture extending across all of the openings of said passage means, thereby dividing each of the passage means into two sections, one carried by each section of the upper wall of the housing.

8. In a, warp knitting machine, knitting elements, a cam shaft for controlling the knitting cycle of the elements, means for rotating the cam shaft, a substantially closed housing about at least a portion of the length of the cam shaft for containing a stable, viscous, non-corrosive liquid, cams on the shaft arranged to dip into the liquid, a plurality of passage means through an upper wall of the housing each comprising two spaced panels havin generally aligned openings therein, pivotally mounted levers each ex- 7 tendingthrough the openings in one of the passage means, laterally projecting baffles carried by each lever, each of said bailies being spaced inwardly from a corresponding one of the openings in general alignment therewith and having a greater transverse area than its corresponding opening and cam follower means engaging the cams through a viscous film of the liquid lifted by the rotation of the cams to the position of engagement with the follower means, said upper wall of the housing being divided into two separable sections along a line of juncture extending generally in the longitudinal direction of the machine, said line of juncture extending across all of the openings of said passage means, thereby dividing each of the passage means into two sections, one carried by each section of the upper wall of the housing.

9. In a warp knitting machine, knitting elements, a cam shaft for controlling the knitting cycle of the elements, means for rotating the cam shaft, a substantially closed housing about at least a portion of the length of the cam shaft for containing a stable, viscous, non-corrosive liquid, cams on the shaft, open receptacles within the housing, one under each of the cams and having walls extending above the level/of liquid in the housing, means for controllably permitting fiow of liquid from the housing into each receptacle, and cam follower means engaging the cams through a viscous film of the liquid lifted by the rotation of the cams to the position of engagement with the follower means.

10. In a warp knitting machine, knitting elements, a cam shaft for controlling the knitting cycle of the elements, means for rotating the cam shaft, a substantially closed housing about at least a portion of the length of the cam shaft for containing a stable, viscous, non-corrosive liquid, cams on the shaft, open receptacles within the housing, one under each of the cams and having walls extending above the level of liquid in the housing, means for controllably permitting How of liquid from the housing into each receptacle, passage means through an upper wall of the housing comprising an opening, a pivotally mounted lever for actuating one of the knitting elements extending freely through the opening, laterally projecting baflle means carried by the lever and spaced inwardly from the opening, said bafile means facing the opening and being of greater transverse area than the opening, and cam follower means engaging the cams through a viscous film of the liquid lifted by the rotation of the cams to the position of engagement with the follower means.

11. In a warp knitting machine, knitting elements, a cam shaft for controlling the knitting cycle of the elements, means for rotating the cam shaft, a substantially closed housing about at least a portion of the length of the cam shaft for containing a stable, viscous, non-corrosive liquid, cams on the shaft, open receptacles within the housing, one under each of the cams and having walls extending above the level of liquid in the housing, means comprising an orifice in the receptacle wall for controllably permitting flow of liquid from the housing into each receptacle, passage means through an upper wall of the housing comprising an opening, a pivotally mounted lever for actuating one of the knitting elements extending freely through the opening, laterally projecting bafile means carried by the lever and spaced inwardly from the opening, said baflle means facing the opening and being of greater transverse area than the opening, and cam follower means engaging the cams through a viscous film of the liquid lifted by the rotation of the cams to the position of engagement with the follower means.

WILLIAM D. KELLOGG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,981,511 Kinsella et a1. Nov. 20, 1934 2,317,186 Fowler Apr. 20, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 627,392 Germany Mar. 14, 1936 

